NEWS
Prime Minister Pahor and the Italian Prime Minister on funds for the Slovenian national minority
On the occasion of the European Council meeting in Brussels, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, today met the Prime Minister of the Italian Republic, Silvio Berlusconi. The two Prime Ministers discussed the planned decrease in funds for the Slovenian national minority in Italy. “Prime Minister Berlusconi promised that Italy would provide the same amount of money for the Slovenian national minority as initially planned,” said the Slovenian Prime Minister after the talks.
(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)
“Berlusconi told me that he had sent me a letter a few days ago, which I will officially receive in Ljubljana and a photocopy tomorrow in Brussels. My understanding was that by way of suitable action, Italy will earmark the same amount of money for the Slovenian national minority in Italy,” explained Prime Minister Pahor. Mr Berlusconi gave his assurance that the Italian government would endeavour to find a solution to the current situation via practical measures to satisfy the Slovenian national minority in Italy and allocate approximately equal funding to what it would have otherwise made available.
“But, of course, deeds matter – not waiting for a letter. Slovenia is basically waiting for measures of the Italian government. If these measures are along the lines of Mr Berlusconi's promises, we will be satisfied,” added Mr Pahor and went on to say that, when adopting savings measures, the Slovenian government would not act in such a way as to affect the institutions of the Italian and Hungarian communities.
(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)
On the margins of the European Council meeting, Prime Minister Pahor replied to journalists' questions about the European Union's accession negotiations with Croatia. The Slovenian side prepared its own “very demanding and very clear, waterproof,” proposal. “Should the French side forward it to Zagreb and should Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader sign it and reply in a letter to the proposal of the French Presidency, and should this be noted in Council conclusions or in a later document, the Slovenian side would have no reason to block those chapters contaminated by documents which may prejudice the border,” explained the Slovenian Prime Minister.
“We know precisely the condition which must be fulfilled for Slovenia to give the green light to further negotiations. If these conditions are not met, the Slovenian diplomats will follow clear instructions to give the red light in the second half of this month,” stressed Prime Minister Pahor.